It seems I've added fuel to a fire that was quietly burning in many of us. I appreciate those who have contributed factual evidence as well as logical statements on the matters at hand. It's also funny to see the great gnashing of teeth and tearing of clothes that occurs when Yoshiki is criticized for things that he has faltered on and lied about. Returner, I applaud your efforts for defending your beloved Yoshiki. It's very kind of you but your post lost all merit after you claimed that the band has to be in the US to be global, and that the others are not contributing as much as Yoshiki. You're blind to the truth of what's going on. I must also point out the hilarious irony in your profile signature as well...

"We are not trying to keep the legacy—we are trying to move forward, so our sound is going to change. I’m ready to be criticized, for example by fans saying "you should rather be this style." I’m ready for it, I’m okay with any concept of criticism - Yoshiki"

"I am ready to be criticized...."

My post did not lose merit from stating all of X should be in the US to make it global. While it is possible from anywhere in the world, it is easier to break any market from the ground where it is based. The United States is still the biggest music market in the world and has the most international reach over any country. Japan is 2nd, and is still dwarfed by the US by nearly twice the amount.

Also, everyone here loves to undervalue Yoshiki's connection-making skills and the vital role they play in X Japan's business strategy, but IV never would have been in line for Saw 4 from the hub of LA if Yoshiki weren't here putting X Japan's name in the ears of producers. I don't believe We Are X would have been made by who it was and shown where it was if he hadn't been living in the US either. Of course that's an opinion of mine, but it's not hard to see how that opinion was formed.

What Japanese band based out of Japan has done Lollapolooza, Coachella, SXSW (We are X doc), and been invited to Ozzfest? I know Japanese, Korean, German, etc bands have performed at all, but which single Japanese band has done all of them?

Not even Larc en Ciel, Luna Sea, Buck Tick, Gackt, Dir en Gray, Miyavi, or bands more poppy like Gazette or Alice 9 have done that. Those are all heavy hitting bands and they still haven't broken out on the international stage like X has.

Are you really going to tell me that success has nothing to do with Yoshiki's strategy?

If so, that's fine. I respect your opinion. But since it can't be proven otherwise, please respect my own opinion. I do believe it means something to go about X the way Yoshiki has and things would have gone along quicker if the rest of the band had, too. The Yoshiki spotlight that some have a problem with would have been diminished as well.

Those were the only points I was trying to make by mentioning the other members, by the way. I do not hate them in any way.

I will reiterate for the nth time that I have not been mum in regards to critizing Yoshiki's decisions or acknowledging with you all the things that he's done and made hard for fans- despite how much everyone here can't help but gloss over those points and shovel me into a one-sided, one worded debate party.

But I will say that Yoshiki DOES have fans on this forum who refuse to hate him forever for the same things he's done over and over. Who will always see things differently in regards to the fans who stay mad about them. There will always be fans who seek to understand or "get over it" opposed to fans who don't, and that's fine. But you can't just gloss over us and make what we say irrelevant because you disagree and that's what's going on here.

X Freaks deserves to be a sounding board for people's frustrations but people who aren't frustrated deserve to have their voice heard without being solo'd out and attacked here, as happens so often.

Yoshiki's fine with his music being criticized but how long can the same dredge be discussed and flamed over? 2 more years? 5? 10?

I will also say that it's NEVER good to want someone around just to "fight" with them. That's an ugly mentality that has unfortunately bled into this place, and it shows.

I don't want to leave this post with anything negative. I feel like I've been respectful despite having opposing views and hopefully anyone who feels like responding to this will be respectful as well.

Hey, friends! Been a while. Glad to see not much has changed since my departure...! haha

I was at the MSG show, and as a New York resident, I've been to many shows there. X-Japan certainly did not sell the place out. They definitely reduced the available seating compared to more packed shows, and even the seats that were there were NOT full. I would say maybe 30 - 25% of the available seats were empty, especially the higher back you looked. Didn't affect my enjoyment of the show, though!

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Someone is not your opinion? Take a deep breath, and learn how to be as polite as necessary. Master the fine art of respectful disagreement and disagreeing respectfully. Remind yourself that civility is a sign of strength, not weakness. Read a lot. Change your own opinion a few times, maybe change the opinions of others, too. Stick around, read, write, learn, educate.